Damian Asher is a captain in the Fort McMurray Fire Department. A fifteen-year veteran, Damian is charged with protecting not only the city but also the lives of the men and women he works with. In his spare time, Damian works as a contractor, building homes by hand. He lives in Fort McMurray with his wife and two children.

Omar Mouallem is a National Magazine Award–winning writer who lives in Edmonton. His work has appeared in many publications, including WIRED, the Guardian and Reader’s Digest. He also sits on the board of LitFest, Canada’s non-fiction book festival, and Eighteen Bridges magazine. Follow Omar on Twitter.